A/N: Congrats to all who made it!! Many thanks to the mod for permitting this lunacy!! Many thanks to all who read!! Now, I can go back and read everything I missed this month! And write my percyfic, and write a slashfest before midnight and…..
He had a few minutes before brunch was scheduled, so Remus took extra pains with his appearance. His china blue shirt brought out the amber in his eyes, and he brushed his hair vigorously until it shined. He draped his costume over a chair, and finished packing his case before shrinking it and putting it in his pocket.
When Remus arrived in the dining room there weren't quite a dozen people there. Arthur sat looking as if he couldn't move a muscle, but the silly grin on his face was more than enough to know he'd been well satisfied this weekend. Bill and Charlie appeared to be eyeing up one more 'sandwich' candidate before they left the manor. Hermione sat beaming between Myron Wagtail and Heathcote Barbary. Everyone had a bellini in their hand and there were bowls of fruit and baskets of croissants scattered down the tabletop.
Lucius and Narcissa entered, they nodded and smiled while stopping to chat as they moved along the table. Lucius shot a curious glance a Hermione, and when Draco and Harry chose that moment to enter the room hand in hand, the look went from curious to furious. There were suddenly raised voices that became whispers, as the host and hostess excused themselves, and took their quartet to one corner.
Elves began by bringing tea and juices, eggs and sausages followed. Then came potatoes, rolls, steaks, asparagus, lamb, soups, sandwiches, ham, and, of course, bacon. With each delivery Remus expected to see Severus arrive, but he didn’t. Remus couldn't eat. He would just go and get Severus himself; he pushed back from the table and headed towards the skirmish that was occurring in the corner.
Remus could here the heat of the conversation that was belied by the hushed voices. Lucius looked at him as he approached. "Excuse me." Remus said.
"Lupin, we are having a family crisis here, if you could please sit down." Lucius ordered politely.
"A crisis? Perhaps, I could help."
"I would doubt it. My son has decided that his life partner is to be a man."
"And that's a crisis?" Remus asked in surprise.
Lucius stood ramrod straight and said in his chilliest voice. "Naturally."
Remus cocked his head. "So it is acceptable for your friends, but not for your son?"
Narcissa shifted uncomforabely, and Remus noticed. Oh, ho!
"You had Severus and I trapped together since Saturday morning. The note that was left for us -- he said was from you."
"I couldn't possibly…"
Narcissa interrupted. "No, you couldn't possibly, could you? You didn't recognize that the friend you pushed women on for years, liked men."
"Severus?"
"Yes, Severus." Narcissa and Remus said in unison.
"This discussion is fascinating, but not helping us with our current problem." Lucius stated firmly.
"I don't see a problem. If they care for one another, what more do you wish for your son?"
"Lupin, this is not your dilemma."
"You're right. What I really wanted to know was where Severus' room is? I'd like to make certain that he makes it to brunch."
"Severus took his leave about a half of an hour ago."
Remus heart sank. "Do you know where he went?"
"I imagine home." Lucius said obviously bored with this turn of events.
Remus turned to Narcissa. "It was you, that's why I was invited."
Narcissa nodded. "Harry and Draco were talking about you.."
Lucius interrupted. "You knew?" his voice just an octave under a shriek.
Narcissa looked Lucius in the eye. "Of course, I knew. I'm his mother for Merlin's sake."
"Our room, now!" Lucius ordered.
"No." Narcissa stated firmly. 'I'll finish my conversation with Remus, and then we will return to our guests. Any other problems we have will be sorted out after everyone has gone." She turned back to Remus. "He always looked at men that were build slightly bigger then he is. Never blonds or red-heads, he looked at men with brown hair, light and dark. When the boys mentioned you a few weeks ago, the thought struck. You and Severus are the same age, intelligent, well-respected and employed. It wasn't completely altruistic, of course, I thought showing Lucius, that Severus had a male partner might make it easier for him to understand Draco."
"I understand my own son, quite well, thank you." Lucius interjected.
Narcissa accio'd a quill and parchment and wrote down some coordinates. She pressed the note into Remus' hand. "These are for his home. Don't hurt him."
Remus clasped her hands. "Thank you and thank you for the weekend. I don't intend to hurt him." He stated firmly before turning to Harry and mouthing 'good luck'. He waved to the rest of the guest and he was out the door. Out the front door, down the drive and to the apparition point, he checked the coordinates and Apparated.
Now, he stood in front of Severus' home. It was a lovely cottage, with a stone chimney, dark trim and cheery flower boxes at the front windows. Remus knocked. From inside here heard Severus "Are you an idiot, the sign says 'no trespassing'." Severus whipped open the door.
"Lupin."
"I may be an idiot, but might I have a word?"
"I believe we've said enough."
"And I believe we haven't said nearly enough."
Severus sighed. "All right, but when you are finished I don't expect to see you here again."
"Fair enough." In a pig's eye.
Severus sat in a high-backed chair, Remus followed suit by sitting on the sofa opposite. "Why did you leave?"
"The weekend was over."
"We still had things to say."
"Did we?" Severus drawled.
"I promised you a dinner next weekend."
"A promise, I will not hold you too."
"Severus, we had an incredible weekend, didn't you wonder if it could be more."
"Lupin, it can not be more."
"Why, Severus? Why can't we be lovers, or friends or both?"
"It is just not possible."
It dawned on Remus and he lifted his chin. "The werewolf thing, then?"
"Lupin, not everything that does not go your way in life is based on the fact that you are a werewolf. Plenty of people, every day, have disappoints and they aren't werewolves."
"All right, Severus. Can you please explain why we cannot be friends, lovers?
"Do you actually want a list?" Severus was breathing hard, his jaw set as he tried to control his temper.
"Yes." Remus said simply.
"Fine. I am impossible to live with. I am bad tempered, sarcastic and ugly. Do you need more?"
Remus pressed his lips together. "No, I'll address these first. How do you know that you're impossible to live with? Have you ever lived with anyone before?"
"Pettigrew."
"That doesn't count, and it wouldn't be something I would thank Voldemort for either. Back to your list. Bad tempered, maybe but I would say more passionate."
"We are not talking sex." Severus sniffed.
"Neither was I, yet. You are passionate about: learning, about what is right not what is popular, about potions. You are a passionate man who feels deeply, and those feeling erupt in moments that can be perceived as bad tempered. Sarcastic, yes, you are, very much so in fact. I like it, brilliant people tend to be that way, you can be cutting, but usually your observations are so dead on and dry they're funny. Ugly? I don't know what mirror you're looking in, you're not a pretty boy, but you are sexy and striking. Who wants pretty in a man anyway? You can continue your list if you need to."
Severus sat, mouth working like a fish for a moment before clamping it shut. He tried again. "I'm inexperienced in both the physical and emotional parts of a relationship."
It was Remus' turn to take a moment before speaking. "I was with you when you were completely untouched. You were brave and greeted every new occurrence with enthusiasm. It was an amazing thing to witness and experience."
"Real life is not a weekend. There are no house elves, no one planning outings, parties, no one making exceptional food."
"Severus, don't you imagine I know that? I clean my own house, cook my own food, except for Friday night when I get take-out. I'm not looking to live in a manor home and have fabulous parties every weekend. What I am looking for is an intelligent, sexy man that I can share my life, my thoughts, and my body with."
Severus kept silent and looked away from Remus.
Remus slid of his chair and took the two steps over to Severus. He was going to have to give over everything; he touched Severus' chin forcing him to meet his gaze. "I fell in love. As improbable and impossible as it seems, I fell in love with a man I've known for more than thirty years. I'd always considered you attractive and fascinating, but what you showed me this weekend, blew me away."
Severus blushed. "You couldn't possibly…..you just could not.."
"I understand your skepticism; I never imagined anything like this when I accepted a weekend party invitation. I expected great food, an amazing house, entertainment and a bit of sex. What I got was so much more. If you would prefer a proper courting, I would be happy to oblige you. If all this is too strange for you or I've misinterpreted things…"
"You do go on, don't you?"
"Well, I…"
"Soppy as well.
"Gryffindor, in case you forgot." Remus could feel the tight band that constricted his heart loosening.
"I cannot promise love." Severus turned away. "I could just be sex.." he coughed. "I just don't know."
Remus sighed in relief. "Just tell me how we should proceed."
Severus looked at Remus with a twinkle in his eye. "Perhaps we should try the sex in a less ostentatious surrounding, and see what comes of that."
Remus chuckled. "Less ostentatious than a broom closet?"
"I believe my bedroom is a bit more luxurious than that." Severus stood and shy offered Remus his hand.
Remus chewed his lip as he followed Severus to his bedroom. What if he wasn't up to par? What if the lack of aphrodisiacs made a difference to Severus? What if he failed to perform after all the sex over the weekend? He was going to make himself crazy. Severus' room was simple, and charming with a bed that was so large athletic competitions could be held on it.
Severus must have sensed his reticence. "Rethinking your declarations of love?"
"No. I'm hoping I can meet your expectations since there is no external stimulus here."
Remus saw Severus swallow. "I have the same fear myself." He whispered.
Remus sighed. They could do this, or at least they could try. Remus pulled Severus into an awkward kiss. As they stood and continued it, the kisses improved and they became more comfortable. Remus fiddled with Severus' top button. A wand wave and a whispered word and they were both nude.
"Severus?"
"I think we have enough awkwardness here at the moment, perhaps we should just try the bed."
They slipped onto the bed and faced each other. Remus caressed Severus face pushing his hair back. Their kisses resumed, light and tentative as they explored each other. Fire infused itself into their quest. They pressed their long bodies together, reveling in the feel of skin on skin. It led them to hand stroking over the angles and valleys of their forms. It was a pursuit that Remus could continue forever.
Remus could feel Severus' cock pressed against his thigh, nudging it for friction. His own cock rubbed Severus' hip, he reached a hand in between them to align them. The gentle abrasion was heavenly, and they rocked together as they continued their explorations with their mouths. Remus nipped and sucked on Severus' jaw, Severus returned the favor by worrying Remus' ear. Their rocking became closer to thrusting, and finally Remus could stand it no longer.
He reached his hand between them, holding their cocks together as they trust into his fist. It wouldn't, couldn't be long. Severus' fingers dug deeply into Remus arse, and the pleasure pain sent him tumbling over the edge. A harsh cry, accompanied Severus' release. They lay panting, twined together.
They lay against each other for a long time, until Severus shivered. Remus summoned his wand and cleaned them up, pulling the duvet over them. "It was better."
Severus didn't answer.
Remus made himself quite clear. "It was better, without all the frills. It was perfect, with just you."
Severus sighed and said quietly. "I think so too." As he cuddled into Remus' arms.